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bbc.com
Hargreaves Lansdown says IT issues which affected thousands are over
The finance firm has apologised for the disruption to its website and app, which has angered many customers.
theguardian.com
Vocational training should happen in the workplace, not classroom | Letter
In-service training is best for the workforce and industry, writes Alan AckroydThe government is taking the wrong approach by teaching vocational qualifications in the classroom (Editorial, 15 March). Vocational training should take place primarily in the workplace and employers should be forced to include relevant training and qualification packages for all staff.I have had two different experiences of this. When I first left school I entered an apprenticeship in my local printing firm. They made me competent in what they did but refused to allow me to take a day-release course (that I had arranged for myself) for fear that it would lead to my leaving the company. I left the industry for tertiary education. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
OpenAI's first crack at online shopping stumbled. It's preparing for the next wave
Etsy, Walmart and Shopify were quick to jump into Instant Checkout, but item information was often inaccurate and onboarding merchants was difficult.
cnbc.com
U.S. says Cuba is prohibited from taking Russian oil as two tankers head to island
The fuel-starved Caribbean island is facing its biggest test since the collapse of the Soviet Union under a U.S. oil blockade.
cnbc.com
Iran war-induced fertilizer shortage threatens Republicans in farm states ahead of midterms
Democrats are vying for competitive seats across farm country in 2026, and fertilizer shortages spurred by the Iran war give them a new affordability angle.
theguardian.com
Fuel rations and cash handouts: Iran war energy shock hits Asia – The Latest
Across south-east Asia, governments are scrambling to find ways to conserve energy and shield the public from soaring costs, as war in the Middle East causes huge disruption in the global oil market. In Thailand, news anchors have been ditching their jackets after orders to reduce air conditioning use, while government workers in the Philippines are operating on a four-day week. Asia relies heavily on imported energy, much of which passes through the strait of Hormuz, and officials have warned further measures could be considered if the energy crisis worsens. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s south-east Asia correspondent, Rebecca Ratcliffe Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Treasury yields climb as bonds sell off and fear grows that Fed rate cuts are off the table
U.S. Treasury yields jumped on Friday as investors anticipated inflationary pressures resulting from the Middle East war.
cnbc.com
UK government borrowing costs hit their highest level since 2008 as inflation fears hit the gilt market
Three charts show the extent of the U.K. government's borrowing woes.
cnbc.com
Trump administration unveils national AI policy framework to limit state power
AI industry leaders have opposed state-level regulatory efforts, arguing that a "patchwork" of laws would hobble innovation and give China a competitive edge.
theguardian.com
FCA investigates collapsed lender MFS amid £1.3bn mortgage scandal
Move follows the granting of a worldwide asset-freezing order on company’s founder, Paresh RajaWhat is the £1.3bn MFS mortgage scandal and what is private credit?The UK’s financial regulator has launched an investigation into Market Financial Solutions (MFS), the mortgage lender that collapsed last month amid allegations of fraud.The move follows the granting of a £1.3bn worldwide asset-freezing order on MFS founder Paresh Raja on Wednesday, as creditors successfully gained court orders in London and Dubai barring the tycoon from dissipating assets. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK borrowing costs hit highest since 2008 as markets expect up to three interest rate rises
Deficit rises unexpectedly to £14.3bn in February as stock markets slide amid fears that Iran war will escalateBusiness live – latest updatesUK government borrowing costs have reached their highest level since 2008, while financial markets now expect up to three interest rate rises this year as investors digest the impact of the Iran conflict.The yield, or interest rate, on 10-year borrowing was pushed to heights not seen since the global financial crisis, as investors dumped UK government bonds. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Trump-backed television merger moves forward
Critics fear the consolidation will add to strains facing local news and degrade coverage.
bbc.com
Work from home and drive more slowly to save energy, global body urges
People should change how they travel, work and cook to tackle the energy price crisis, the International Energy Agency says.
cnbc.com
Super Micro shares tank 25% after employees charged with smuggling Nvidia chips to China
The U.S. government has been trying to crack down on illegal shipments of top-tier Nvidia artificial intelligence chips to China.
bbc.com
UK borrowing costs hit highest level since 2008 financial crisis
The interest rate on government debt is climbing over fears about inflation, interest rates, and public spending, experts have said.
cnbc.com
Government bonds face ‘perfect storm’ as Iran war rattles Europe's central banks
Bond yields have surged as Europe's central banks grapple with new inflation fears.
cnbc.com
Oil prices little changed at $108 as U.S. considers lifting sanctions on some Iranian crude
Oil prices were stable on Friday even after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington may soon lift sanctions on Iranian crude stored aboard tankers.
cnbc.com
Copper joins gold in broad commodities sell-off. There's a worrying reason behind it
After major rallies, metals were under pressure on Thursday as rising oil prices increased both inflation and growth worries.
theguardian.com
‘Yes to fields of wheat, no to fields of iron’: how the world’s greenest country soured on solar
In Denmark, the spread of solar panels has become a divisive issue among voters, especially in rural areasIn one telling of the story, the golden fields of a proud farming nation are under attack. Besieged by an industrial sprawl of solar panels, they are being smothered at the behest of an urban elite.That narrative has failed to thrive in conservative heartlands such as Texas and Hungary, which have embraced solar power while lambasting green rules. But it is taking root in Denmark, the most climate-ambitious nation on Earth. “We say yes to fields of wheat,” said Inger Støjberg, the leader of the rightwing populist Denmark Democrats in a speech in 2024. “And we say no to fields of iron!” Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Starmer’s ministers look at new economic blueprint to quell voter anger
Devolution of tax powers to mayors, scrapping of national insurance and property tax overhaul on report’s menu Cabinet ministers have been studying a blueprint for Labour to radically overhaul its economic offer and messaging, including devolving tax powers, abolishing national insurance, and major property tax changes.Passed around dozens of MPs, the paper argues that without a major rethink, the failure to tackle the discontent on the cost of living will hand the next election to a hard-right government. There is also increasing concern that the war with Iran – pushing up prices of fuel, energy, food and mortgages – will fuel further mass public anger. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Typical energy bill forecast to rise by £332 a year in July
Cornwall Insight says the recent surge in energy prices due to the Iran war is set to push up household bills.
cnbc.com
The Tech Download: Agentic tools and chips take center stage at Nvidia's 'Super Bowl of AI'
CNBC's Katie Tarasov shares her key takeaway's from the world's most valuable company's annual AI conference
bbc.com
Did you know you could transfer your ISA?
Martin Lewis explains how you can make the most of your ISA.
theguardian.com
Household energy bills in Great Britain ‘could rise to almost £2,000 a year’ amid Iran war shock
Consultancy forecasts typical £1,972 annual dual-fuel bill as conflict pushes UK’s gas market past three-year highsBusiness live – latest updatesHousehold energy bills in Great Britain could increase by more than £330 a year to almost £2,000 from this summer after the Iran war pushed the UK’s gas market past three-year highs.A typical combined household gas and electricity bill is now forecast to reach £1,972 a year from July under the UK government’s quarterly price cap, according to analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight,. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Huge build-up of risk’: London’s centuries-old shipping industry wrestles with Iran war
Insurers at Lloyd’s of London say cover is available at a price, while merchants view the danger level as too highShipping risk has been insured by Lloyd’s of London for more than 330 years, but now the centuries-old heart of maritime insurance is getting to grips with the most modern of threats – drones and missiles threatening hundreds of vessels stuck in the Gulf region amid the escalating Middle East conflict.For nearly three weeks the crucial strait of Hormuz has effectively been closed to the more than 100 gas and oil tankers and container ships that usually pass through each day. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Banks eye three ECB rate hikes this year as former Governor says he sees no stagflation — yet
Brokers now expect the ECB to hike interest rates this year as the specter of higher inflation and lower growth piles pressure on central banks to act.
theguardian.com
The war in Iran is ripping up the Gulf’s plan for stability | Sanam Vakil
As missiles fall from the sky and energy infrastructure is targeted, the limitations of relying on the US for protection are becoming all too obviousFor more than two weeks, missiles and drones have been crossing the skies of the Gulf, as a war many in the region sought to avoid – between the USand Israel, and Iran – continues to escalate. Airlines are diverting flights, shipping routes are being disrupted and air defence systems across the region are operating at constant alert. Now, with attacks extending to energy infrastructure including gas facilities and production sites, it is likely that the war has entered into a dangerous phase of escalation.Yet the governments now living with these risks were among those that most tried to prevent the conflict, encouraging negotiations in recent months and warning about the dangers of escalation.Sanam Vakil is the director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham HouseDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
bbc.com
How the Iran war may affect your money and bills
The conflict in the Middle East has increased pressure on the cost of petrol, household energy bills and even food.
cnbc.com
Work from home, drive slower and don't use gas cookers: IEA advice on weathering the global energy crisis
The IEA warns of "the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market" due to the conflict in the Middle East.
theguardian.com
Applebee’s and Ihop unite – will new ‘dual’ restaurant tempt back US diners?
Fusion of cherished American eateries hopes to revive brands that have ‘gone hungry’ while rest of industry feastsNo one could say the New York union of Applebee’s and Ihop happened without fanfare.A car park in Hawthorne, 30 miles north of Manhattan, had been decked out with a 30ft-high inflatable red apple. Red, white and blue bunting flew from masts. Upbeat music blasted from speakers. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Fire experts ‘kept awake’ over growing hazard of lithium-ion batteries
Fire service warns ubiquity of batteries in everyday products is outpacing public understanding and safety regulationsLithium-ion batteries represent a new technological hazard that one fire science expert has said keeps him awake at night, as fire service chiefs warn the ubiquity of the batteries in everyday products is outpacing public understanding and safety regulations.The blaze that devastated a historic building in Glasgow and resulted in the closure of Central Station, Scotland’s largest rail interchange, is believed to have started in a shop selling vapes, which are powered by lithium-ion batteries. Glasgow’s Central Station has since reopened. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Fuel spikes, flight delays and storms threaten US spring break travel
Record 171 million passengers are expected to fly this spring, even as TSA funding lapse risks longer airport linesSpring breakers in the US could see their long-awaited trips to party destinations disrupted by a trifecta of issues: airport security delays, high gas prices, and chaotic weather.The potential for flight delays comes as US airlines expect that they will see a record-shattering spring travel season. Airlines for America, an aviation industry group, said that 171 million passengers are expected to fly – a 4% increase from the 2025 spring travel period. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘It’s not sustainable’: US farmers reeling as Iran war pushes fertilizer costs up
Closure of strait of Hormuz – a key fertilizer production and transportation route – has squeezed farmers as prices jumpRodney Bushmeyer has been farming as long as he can remember. Bushmeyer’s father was a farmer, as was his grandfather.The family-run Bushmeyer Farms in Illinois dates back more than 100 years, when his ancestors came to the US from Germany. They acquired the first 80 acres cost-free as homesteaders, cleared the land, and worked it. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Gold rebounds, but silver extends losses as oscillating oil prices spark market volatility
The metals saw bumpy trade on Friday morning, after joining a broad sell-off the previous day.
bbc.com
Why are gas prices soaring and how could it affect you?
Analysts fear the disruption to supply could continue for longer than initially thought.
cnbc.com
Who's most optimistic about AI — and who isn't, according to Anthropic
Economic gains are people's main aspirations for AI, but analysts warned that not everyone stands to benefit equally.
bbc.com
NI households set for £30 electricity reduction in July
The scheme, which will cost £81m, follows on from an announcement made at the UK budget in November 2025.
theguardian.com
JP Morgan Chase to use computer estimates to monitor hours worked by junior bankers
Company says tool to compare self-reported hours with computer estimates is for ‘awareness, not enforcement’Business live – latest updatesJP Morgan Chase has started to compare the hours junior investment bankers claim to have worked against logs on its IT system.The US bank said it would begin issuing reports to junior bankers that compare computer-generated estimates of their work weeks against their self-reported time sheets as part of a pilot scheme. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Marmite maker Unilever in talks to merge food business with US-based McCormick
Anglo-Dutch company, which also owns Dove and Hellmann’s, will focus more on personal care products if deal agreedBusiness live – latest updatesUnilever, the owner of Marmite, Dove and Hellmann’s mayonnaise, is in talks to combine its food business with the US-based spice and seasoning maker McCormick.The Anglo-Dutch food company – which last year spun off its ice-cream division, the home to Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum and Wall’s – has entered discussions over the future of the “highly attractive” business. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Netanyahu's 'ground component' warning
Factors playing into early trade include the threat of a "ground component" from Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu.
cnbc.com
Trump invokes Pearl Harbor in front of Japanese prime minister to defend Iran attack secrecy
During the meeting, Trump praised Japan for "stepping up" to assist in efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz, "unlike NATO."
cnbc.com
Asia-Pacific markets mostly decline as Iran war dents risk sentiment
Asia markets track losses on Wall Street, extending market rout on Iran war impact.
cnbc.com
Nvidia's Huang pitches AI tokens on top of salary as agents reshape how humans work
Most enterprise AI projects have failed since 2018, a sobering track record for an industry awash in enthusiasm.
cnbc.com
Trump invokes emergency powers with $23 billion in Gulf arms sales as Iran war wages on: WSJ report
The U.S. approved roughly $23 billion in weapons sales to three Gulf nations, moving to bolster their defenses as the Middle East war continued to escalate.
cnbc.com
Japan wanted inflation and Iran war could grant that wish. But it's not the type Tokyo desires
The Iran war is pushing up "cost-push" inflation in Japan as opposed to the "demand-pull" inflation the BOJ seeks.
theguardian.com
Homes for sale with uplifting views in England and Wales – in pictures
From a real get-away-from-it-all isolated ‘off-grid’ cottage by the sea to a 42nd-floor three-bedroom flat in a London tower block Continue reading...
cnbc.com
The Iran war is sending shockwaves through the world's busiest IPO market
Market volatility and geopolitical tensions have choked liquidity in India’s IPO market, forcing high‑profile companies to hit pause.
bbc.com
School uniform reuse scheme launches in London
The School Uniform Reuse Network aims to help schools and families reduce waste and save money.
cnbc.com
Alibaba workforce shrinks 34% in 2025 as Chinese tech giant doubles down on AI
Alibaba cut its staff by roughly 34% over the course of 2025, as the company disposed of peripheral holdings to focus on its AI business.
theguardian.com
Meta AI agent’s instruction causes large sensitive data leak to employees
Artificial intelligence agent instructed engineer to take actions that exposed user and company data internallyAn AI agent instructed an engineer to take actions that exposed a large amount of Meta’s sensitive data to some of its employees, in the latest example of AI causing upheaval in a large tech company.The leak, which Meta confirmed, happened when an employee asked for guidance on an engineering problem on an internal forum. An AI agent responded with a solution, which the employee implemented – causing a large amount of sensitive user and company data to be exposed to its engineers for two hours. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘It does feel like an intimidation campaign’: why is US tech giant Palantir suing a small Swiss magazine?
An investigation by journalists working with Republik magazine may have struck a nerve by suggesting the company has failed in SwitzerlandIt was over beers on an autumn evening in Zurich in 2024 that a group of journalists with an independent Swiss research collective began to discuss investigating Palantir, one of the world’s biggest tech companies.Three years earlier, Palantir had advertised that it was setting up a “European hub” in the Swiss municipality of Altendorf, a sleepy town of roughly 7,000 people on the shores of Lake Zurich. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
High charges, poor service: NCP hits the skids as drivers change habits
Britons are likely to have little loyalty to the car park operator as it goes into administration with a £305m debt burdenNearly a century old and once host to London fashion week, the NCP car park in Brewer Street in London’s Soho is facing an uncertain future. Its former glories – which at one time included separate rooms for chauffeurs and changing rooms for theatregoers – have long given way to complaints about a lack of security and high parking charges, but this week things got worse.National Car Parks, one of the UK’s biggest car park operators, which dates back to 1931, filed for administration at the high court in London after struggling to pay its rents and buckling under a £305m mountain of debt. This means the future of 340 car parks across the UK, in town and city centres, at hospitals and airports, is uncertain along with the fate of 682 people who work for the Japanese-owned business. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
People in North Yorkshire town found to have ‘alarming’ levels of toxic Pfas chemicals in blood
Exclusive: Testing in Bentham, home to UK’s highest recorded Pfas levels, finds one in four have blood levels in greatest risk categoryAlarming levels of toxic forever chemicals have been found in the blood of people living in a town previously revealed to be contaminated with the UK’s highest recorded level of Pfas.Pfas, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and commonly known as forever chemicals because of their persistence in the environment, have been linked to a wide range of serious illnesses, including some cancers. They are used in a variety of consumer products but one of their most prolific uses is in firefighting foam. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
What’s really behind Trump’s latest tantrums over Iran? – podcast
Donald Trump has told his Nato allies: ‘We don’t need you.’ He also threatened to ‘massively blow up’ the world’s largest gasfield, despite Americans already having to deal with higher prices.This week, Jonathan Freedland speaks to Kamala Harris’s former national security adviser, Philip Gordon, about what this all means for the Iran war and Trump’s ‘America First’ policyArchive: CNBC, CBS News, Channel 4 News, ABC News, NBC News, TODAY, Sky News Continue reading...
bbc.com
Trio charged over alleged plot to smuggle Nvidia chips from US to China
They allegedly used fake papers and dummy gear as part of a plan to sell billions in tech to China.
theguardian.com
Why Ireland is giving a basic income to artists – podcast
Rory Carroll reports on the Irish government’s initiative, as a musician and a writer relay their experiences on the schemeThe Irish government’s Basic Income for the Arts initiative will provide €325 (£283) a week to 2,000 eligible artists, after a pilot found that the scheme recouped more than its net cost and improved the wellbeing of participants.“It’s effectively a subsidy to help them focus on their art because most of them are juggling other jobs, sometimes multiple jobs,” the Guardian’s Ireland correspondent, Rory Carroll, tells Helen Pidd. “The idea is that this will facilitate your art, make your life easier and that wider society will benefit from this.” Continue reading...
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Some uncomfortable history rears its head at Trump-Takaichi meeting
A sensitive historical moment came up in the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi.
theguardian.com
China has been preparing for a global energy crisis for years. It is paying off now
As other Asian economies race to conserve energy, China has huge reserves of oil and gas as well as alternative energy sources like wind and solarMiddle East crisis – live updatesXi Jinping has been preparing for a crisis like this for years. China must secure its energy supply “in its own hands”, its president was reported to have said during a visit to one of its vast oilfields in 2021.The US-Israel war on Iran plunged the Middle East into a deep conflict, with the strait of Hormuz – one of the most important waterways in global trade – all but closed and key energy facilities across the region under attack. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Colombia's budding tech scene needs a cash boost
Colombia has become a tech hub for Latin America, but attracting investors is a challenge.
bbc.com
Russia, China and the US – the global winners and losers of the Iran war
As the conflict triggers economic disruption some risk being hit hard, while others stand to benefit.
bbc.com
Sir John Curtice: Why Labour's Brexit focus has shifted from Leavers to Remainers
Will the pursuit of a closer relationship with the EU risk courting electoral disaster by alienating Brexit-backing voters?
theguardian.com
Shrinkflation takes a bite out of Easter eggs as shoppers pay more for less
The price of popular branded eggs has risen by over 40% in some cases while some have also shrunk in sizeShoppers are shelling out for smaller eggs again this Easter as shrinkflation takes another bite out of the favourite seasonal treat.The price of popular branded chocolate eggs has risen by more than 40% in some cases while some have also shrunk in size, according to research by the consumer champion Which?. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Natural History Museum tops UK attraction list with record visitors
London museum defies drop in numbers seen elsewhere, attributed to cost of living and fall in international touristsLondon’s Natural History Museum (NHM) was the most popular attraction in the UK during 2025, with its renovated gardens, new climate gallery and lack of entry fee leading to record-breaking numbers of visitors.More than 7.1 million people passed through its doors, a 13% increase in visitors year on year and an all-time record for any UK museum or gallery. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Stock markets rattled and energy prices soar after strikes on Qatar gas hub
Oil and gas prices have risen again after fresh strikes hit key infrastructure in the Middle East.
cnbc.com
$166 a barrel? Middle East oil gives clue to where all prices could be headed if Iran war drags on
A breakout of oil prices in Asia has left analysts debating whether U.S. crude could see further upside.
cnbc.com
Netanyahu says Iran is being 'decimated' but revolution requires 'ground component'
Netanyahu's comments came after President Donald Trump, speaking in the Oval Office, said earlier that he would not send U.S. troops to the Middle East.
bbc.com
US considers lifting sanctions on some Iranian oil
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent broached waiving sanctions on oil already at sea, which would be a stunning reversal of longstanding American policy.
theguardian.com
Markets keep the faith – but oil staying above $100 could test that optimism | Nils Pratley
FTSE 100’s modest retreat suggests investors underestimating inflationary impact if energy prices remain elevatedWas it only at the new year that the fanfare was heard for the FTSE 100 index breaking through 10,000 for the first time? It was – on 2 January – and the index then added another 900 points by the end of February. On Thursday, the Footsie briefly fell below that round number as Iran struck Qatar’s enormous Ras Laffan complex, which normally supplies a fifth of the world’s liquefied natural gas, before closing at 10,063, down 2.3% on the day.There are two ways to view that price action. One is to say the sharp reversal from the peak represents a necessarily severe reaction to the war on Iran. Another is to conclude that a flat year-to-date return, after a bountiful 20% gain in 2025, suggests stock markets have barely begun to take seriously the inflationary impact if the war lasts many more weeks, or even months, and keeps oil above $100 a barrel. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Hegseth says potential $200 billion Iran war spending request could shift: 'Takes money to kill bad guys'
President Donald Trump's National Economic Council director, Kevin Hassett, said Sunday that the war has already cost $12 billion.
theguardian.com
Why gasfield attacks are a major escalation in Iran war – The Latest
Donald Trump is threatening to ‘blow up’ a major Iranian energy facility, as attacks on gasfields across the Middle East send gas and oil prices skyrocketing again. The threat comes after Israeli strikes on the South Pars gasfield prompted Iran to retaliate with attacks on energy facilities across the region, including in Qatar. It marks a serious escalation in the war, which could cause long-term disruption to energy supplies. Lucy Hough speaks to senior international reporter Peter Beaumont Continue reading...
bbc.com
Faisal Islam: Iran war is having a dramatic effect on the UK economy
The knock-on effects of the war in the Gulf go beyond a hold on interest rates and are set to reverberate for months.
theguardian.com
‘Doomsday scenario’: a visual guide to the oil and gas site attacks in the Middle East
Attacks on facilities by both sides in the conflict this week threaten grave consequences for the global economyMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe escalating attacks on key oil and gas projects in the Middle East are expected to fuel a new phase of the ongoing conflict, with profound consequences for the world’s energy supplies and the global economy.The Iran regime has vowed to target a string of key energy infrastructure across the region after warning that an Israeli strike on a production facility for its largest gasfield at South Pars on Wednesday had ignited a “full-scale economic war”. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Bank ready to raise interest rates if Iran war price 'shock' persists
Policymakers vote unanimously to hold rates at 3.75% after the Iran war prompts a reversal in the debate over borrowing costs.
theguardian.com
Iran could be the US's Boer war: a hollow victory that marks the beginning of the end of empire | Larry Elliott
US leaders anticipated a walkover. Now they’re embroiled in a conflict that could hasten the end of US economic dominance Nobody gave the Boers a prayer when the war in South Africa began in 1899. It was farmers ranged against the might of the British empire, and the expectation was that resistance would quickly crumble.Eventually, might did prevail. Britain won the Boer war, but it was a hollow victory that took the best part of three years to achieve and came at a high cost. The blow to British prestige – coming at a time when its global hegemony was under threat from fast-growing countries such as the US – was severe. Far from highlighting the extent of Britain’s power, it exposed its limitations. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Pay grows at slowest rate in more than five years
Annual earnings grew at an annual rate of 3.8% in the November to January period, the Office for National Statistics says.
theguardian.com
Striking gambit: Erling Haaland invests in new world chess championship
‘There are clear similarities to football,’ says NorwegianCompatriot Magnus Carlsen, the world No 1, likely to playErling Haaland has become a significant investor in a new world chess championship tour that is expected to star his fellow Norwegian Magnus Carlsen, the Guardian can reveal.The deal was agreed shortly before Manchester City played at West Ham last Saturday, with Haaland shown on Sky Sports wearing a Norway Chess cap as he entered the London Stadium – without anyone noticing. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
BoE delivers message Britons don’t want to hear as inflation – and rates – look set to rise
Decision to hold interest rates is backed by gloomy assessment of economy as Iran war pushes up oil pricesBank of England holds interest rates at 3.75%Business live – latest updatesThe US-Israel attack on Iran has already driven prices higher and not just at the petrol pumps, the Bank of England said on Thursday in a gloomy assessment of the UK’s economic outlook.An inflation rate that was on track to fall from 3% to the Bank’s 2% target in the coming months is now expected to rise to 3.5%. That is one probable impact of the US and Israel’s war on Iran. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Why the average age of a first-time buyer has risen
The average age of a first-time buyer in England has risen from 29 to 34.
theguardian.com
Buzz kill: US breweries shutter as fanfare over craft beers appears to fade
Covid-related downturns and reductions in alcohol consumption have taken a toll on a once booming industryIn the early 2000s, Chris Bell, then a student at University of Colorado Boulder, followed a common path among people interested in brewing beer. He started doing so at home, then spent years working at established craft beer makers Long Trail Brewing in Vermont and Avery Brewing in Colorado before opening Call to Arms Brewing Company in 2015 in Denver.In a crowded market, the business was successful. Its More Like Bore-O-Phyll beer won a gold medal in the fresh or wet hop ale category at the 2018 World Beer Cup. A local outlet called it one of the city’s best breweries, and it had a 4.7 rating from more than 400 reviews on Google. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Nearly 400 firms fined over failure to pay minimum wage
The official minimum rates of pay will rise for 2.7 million workers in April 2026.
theguardian.com
We can tell you who will really get rich from this oil crisis – and how we can stop them | Isabella Weber and Gregor Semieniuk
Soaring oil costs signal the great transfer of wealth away from households, but also a new opportunity to redistribute itThe strait of Hormuz is now at the centre of the world. While the US-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic leads to death, destruction and pollution across the Middle East, the whole of the global economy is bracing for the fallout from the conflict. Shipping through the narrow passage has come to a near halt. Already, crude oil prices have shot to above $100 per barrel, up from $60 a barrel at the beginning of the year, while gasoline prices are jumping and airlines are announcing price hikes. Governments of oil-importing countries are scrambling to contain the fallout, announcing measures ranging from shorter work weeks to conserve fuel to price regulations. What they are not yet discussing – and what they should – is who, exactly, is about to get very rich from this.The 2022 oil and gas crisis offers a template. It was the last time we saw a price explosion of this magnitude, triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In our recently published paper in Energy Research & Social Science we map, in unprecedented detail, where those profits went. We also suggest there are ways to prevent profiteering, and redistribute the gains and losses from these shocks more fairly.Isabella Weber is an associate professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and author of the forthcoming book Anti-fascist Economics. Gregor Semieniuk is an associate professor of public policy and economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and researches the economics of climate change mitigation Continue reading...
theguardian.com
What will happen now the £100 contactless card limit has been scrapped?
Watchdog says banks will be able to respond to changing consumer demands, inflation and new technology The limit on contactless spending with a credit or debit card has been scrapped, and banks will be allowed to set their own restrictions.The City watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), said the move would allow banks to respond to changing consumer demands, inflation and new technology. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Why are mortgage rates going up when the Bank of England base rate hasn’t changed?
To understand this you need to know about swap rates and the impact of the war in IranOn 16 January, the average rate on a new two-year fixed-rate mortgage was 4.78%, according to the financial data company Moneyfacts. Two months later, it was 5.20%. Between those two dates, the Bank of England voted to keep the base rate at 3.75%. More significantly, though, the US and Israel carried out airstrikes on Iran and a conflict broke out.The US air attacks on Iran have caused economic shocks across the world. Stock markets have tumbled, petrol and heating oil prices have gone up and there have been warnings of higher bills to come, for everything from food to holidays. All of this feeds into interest rate expectations, and from there into mortgage rates. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Inside China’s robotics revolution
How close are we to the sci-fi vision of autonomous humanoid robots? I visited 11 companies in five Chinese cities to find out Chen Liang, the founder of Guchi Robotics, an automation company headquartered in Shanghai, is a tall, heavy-set man in his mid-40s with square-rimmed glasses. His everyday manner is calm and understated, but when he is in his element – up close with the technology he builds, or in business meetings discussing the imminent replacement of human workers by robots – he wears an exuberant smile that brings to mind an intern on his first day at his dream job. Guchi makes the machines that install wheels, dashboards and windows for many of the top Chinese car brands, including BYD and Nio. He took the name from the Chinese word guzhi, “steadfast intelligence”, though the fact that it sounded like an Italian luxury brand was not entirely unwelcome.For the better part of two decades, Chen has tried to solve what, to him, is an engineering problem: how to eliminate – or, in his view, liberate – as many workers in car factories as technologically possible. Late last year, I visited him at Guchi headquarters on the western outskirts of Shanghai. Next to the head office are several warehouses where Guchi’s engineers tinker with robots to fit the specifications of their customers. Chen, an engineer by training, founded Guchi in 2019 with the aim of tackling the hardest automation task in the car factory: “final assembly”, the last leg of production, when all the composite pieces – the dashboard, windows, wheels and seat cushions – come together. At present, his robots can mount wheels, dashboards and windows on to a car without any human intervention, but 80% of the final assembly, he estimates, has yet to be automated. That is what Chen has set his sights on. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK banks keep £100 limit for contactless card payments despite FCA scrapping it
Banking lobby group says lenders are holding off changes as there is no widespread consumer demand for nowExplainer: What will happen when the £100 limit is scrapped?Shoppers will not be able to splash unlimited amounts on contactless cards despite the lifting of a £100 cap on payments as Britain’s banks held off on making changes.The official limit on individual contactless transactions on credit and debit cards has been scrapped but the UK’s biggest high street and challenger banks have kept the £100 ceiling in place. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Inside India newsletter: Gold loans are thriving in India — and attracting global investors
Gold-backed lending, a billion-dollar industry, is reshaping India’s retail credit landscape and drawing global investors to the sector.
theguardian.com
Possum found in Hobart airport gift shop's toy section – video
A possum surprised Hobart airport staff after wandering into a departures gift shop, where it settled among plush toys on Wednesday. A spokesperson said the animal appeared calm, and was safely escorted out of the terminal without incident Continue reading...
bbc.com
How Finnish supermarkets are central to the country's defence
The chains all have detailed plans to follow in the event of the nation going to war.
bbc.com
UK sets target to boost steel making and cut imports
Up to half of steel used in Britain should be made there, the government says, as it announces its steel strategy.
bbc.com
Labubu film is official with Paddington director at the helm
The film will combine live action and computer-generated animation and is in "early development".
bbc.com
The Iran war is causing a global energy crisis - can China withstand it?
With oil supply disrupted, Beijing's oil reserves and renewable energy push are being put to the test.
bbc.com
US holds interest rates as Iran war triggers inflation fears
The US central bank is moving cautiously, despite pressure from the president to cut interest rates.
bbc.com
How high could UK petrol and diesel prices go?
For every $10 rise in oil prices, motorists face paying roughly 7p per litre more in the UK.
bbc.com
Computer says no. Are AI interviews making it harder to get a job?
Bhuvana Chilukuri has sent more than 100 job applications and is convinced very few have been seen by a human.
theguardian.com
Weighing in on the heavy SUV debate | Brief letters
Taxing vehicles | Secret places | Knicker wisdom | Waffling on | Shoe sizesRegarding your editorial on SUVs (16 March), a simple way to make road users pay their share is to tax vehicles by weight. I’d quite happily pay my share towards the road damage caused, and space taken up, by my bicycle.Richard JonesBristol• I never read travel journalism as I believe that if a place sounds too wonderful everyone else will be inspired to visit it too. But Mark Cocker (Country Diary, 17 March) had me fooled into wanting to go and look at the flowers in … no, I won’t say where.Jocelyn RoseFort William, Highlands Continue reading...
bbc.com
Bentley workers 'shocked and angry' at job cuts
A union says the announcement came as a blow to employees with up to 275 positions at risk.
bbc.com
Average age of first time buyer climbs to 34
A new report looks at how conditions have changed for first time buyers since the 1990s.
theguardian.com
People in the US: how are you managing your money right now?
From higher fuel costs to stock market dips, households across the US are facing new pressures. We want to hear how you are adaptingRising fuel prices, stock market volatility and global instability are creating new financial pressures for households across the US. Recent conflict in the Middle East has pushed diesel prices above $5 a gallon and driven wider concerns about inflation and a potential economic slowdown.Higher transport and supply costs are also beginning to feed through into the price of everyday goods and services, pushing up the cost of living. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Ad for AI editing app which said it could 'remove anything' banned
The UK regulator said the ad condoned "digitally altering and exposing women's bodies without their consent."
cnbc.com
Stocks shake off Tuesday's oil rise — plus, Amazon debuts even faster delivery
Every weekday, the Investing Club releases the Homestretch; an actionable afternoon update just in time for the last hour of trading.
bbc.com
Mayors to gain more spending power under Reeves tax plans
The chancellor sets out the government's plan for economic growth, which also includes closer ties to the EU.
bbc.com
Typical new mortgage costs soar £788 a year in two weeks
Lenders have hiked rates on new deals and withdrawn products as war creates uncertainty in the markets.
bbc.com
Is it possible to build a plastic-free home?
Using plastic in construction is cheap and easy, but some are trying to radically cut back its use.
bbc.co.uk
Selling Sheffield Wednesday
BBC Sport looks at one of England’s most famous football clubs’ fight for survival.
bbc.co.uk
Witness History
On 2 March 2006, India and the United States finalised a controversial nuclear deal
bbc.com
Ukraine's urgent fight on the financial frontline
The war-torn country is battling to secure crucial funding from the IMF and EU, as well as putting up taxes.
bbc.com
Why has Trump eased sanctions on Russian oil - and will it help Putin?
The US said easing sanctions on Russian oil would provide only a limited financial boost to Putin.
bbc.com
Dharshini David: Economy on shaky ground even before Iran war
The government's hopes that 2026 would be the year when growth picks up are at risk of being scuppered.
bbc.com
Can Ukraine's war-torn wheatfields be cleansed?
Researchers take 8,000 soil samples from battlefields to see if it is safe to grow crops.
bbc.com
Can plastic-eating fungi help clean up nappy waste?
Cost and convenience have made disposable nappies dominant - can start-ups compete?
bbc.com
A small US grocer is calling out the lower prices at big chains
It is 'impossible for us to compete', says the boss of a New York grocery store.
bbc.com
The Aldi-style disruptors who could be about to shake up the vets market
As pet owners complain of rising prices, independent practices want to take on the big chains.
bbc.com
GPS jamming: The invisible battle in the Middle East
GPS jamming has made navigation hazardous in the Gulf, spurring efforts to develop alternatives.
bbc.com
Spain's migrants welcome amnesty: 'It will help us in every way'
Madrid cites humanitarian and economic reasons to give undocumented workers legal status.
bbc.com
Can snacks help you sleep?
Chocolates, bars, gummies and drinks promise to help you sleep, but is the science behind them sound?
bbc.com
We have more privacy controls yet less privacy than ever
Has online privacy become "a luxury not a right" for us all in 2026?
cnbc.com
Register now: Applications open for the World's Top Fintech Companies 2026
CNBC and Statista chart the top fintech players from around the world, ranging from startups to Big Tech names.
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
bbc.com
Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?
bbc.com
Budget 2025: What's the best and worst that could happen for Labour?
Three days in, after a tax U-turn and partial climbdown on workers' rights, Laura Kuenssberg looks at what impact Budget week might have.
bbc.com
Has Britain's budget watchdog become too all-powerful?
Ahead of this week's Budget, some have accused the Office for Budget Responsibility of being a "straitjacket on growth"
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